Narooma and Wagonga Inlet fishing spots
Narooma pairs a clear, deep estuary with a short run to Montague Island. Wagonga Inlet holds flathead, bream, whiting, luderick and mulloway, the breakwalls and beaches give salmon and tailor, and Montague is known for kingfish, snapper and summer gamefish. The town sits inside Batemans Marine Park, with several sanctuary and special purpose zones nearby.
Updated
6 spots here: 5 fished from land and 1 reached only by boat, plus 6 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our NSW South Coast species list for New South Wales. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.
Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.
Spots at a glance
| Spot | Type | Fished from | Water | Marine park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Narooma breakwall (Wagonga Head) | Breakwall | Land-based | Ocean coast | Batemans Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
| 2. Wagonga Inlet | Estuary | Land-based, boat and kayak | Bay, estuary or river | Batemans Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
| 3. Narooma Beach | Beach | Land-based | Ocean coast | Batemans Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
| 4. Mummuga Lake, Dalmeny | Lake | Land-based and kayak | Bay, estuary or river | Batemans Marine Park |
| 5. Montague Island (Barunguba) | Island | Boat | Offshore | Batemans Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
| 6. Mystery Bay | Rocks | Land-based and boat | Ocean coast | Batemans Marine Park |
1. Narooma breakwall (Wagonga Head)
- Type
- Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Bar Beach car park and the walls at the inlet entrance.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Australian salmon and mulloway. Also in season: tailor, luderick, yellowfin bream, silver trevally and yellowtail kingfish.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Westerlies; a bigger swell makes the walls and bar dangerous. Faces ENE.
- Note
- Entrance walls of Wagonga Inlet: weed floats for luderick, metals for salmon and tailor, berley for trevally and bream, and live baits for mulloway and kingfish.
- Safety
- The Narooma bar is notorious: lifejackets on and check the TfNSW webcam before crossing. Swell surges along the wall ends.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Wagonga Head habitat protection zone (restricted): no hand collecting of invertebrates, line fishing allowed. Special purpose zones lie just inside the inlet. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -36.21510, 150.13450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Wagonga Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. Wagonga Inlet
- Type
- Estuary · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based, boat and kayak. Ramps at Apex Park, Mill Bay, Taylors and The Loop; foreshore paths around town.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick, silver trevally and tailor.
- Best tide
- Run-in tide on the flats; drop-offs on the run-out.
- Best wind
- Sheltered from most winds.
- Note
- Coordinate is Lavender Point in the lower inlet. Deep, clear estuary: plastics along drop-offs for flathead and mulloway, nippers on the flats for whiting and bream, weed floats for luderick.
- Safety
- Strong currents under the bridge and in the main channel.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Mill Bay, Narooma Wharf and Forsters Bay special purpose zones and the Forsters Bay and Clarks Bay-Freshwater Bay sanctuary zones are close by. No traps except bait traps, no hoop, lift, push or hand-hauled prawn nets, and no spearfishing east of the bridge. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -36.21510, 150.11790 · Open in Google Maps (position: Lavender Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
3. Narooma Beach
- Type
- Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Surf club and beach car parks in Narooma.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Australian salmon, sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
- Best tide
- Rising tide around dawn and dusk.
- Best wind
- Westerlies. Faces E.
- Note
- Main surf beach south of the breakwall: pilchards and lures for salmon and tailor, worms for bream and whiting.
- Safety
- Rips; patrolled in season.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. The Bullengella Lake (about 0.7 km) and Nangudga Lake (about 1 km) sanctuary zones lie near the southern end, and the Bullengella Beach-Loader Beach zone further south is shore-based line fishing only. Check the map. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -36.23180, 150.13450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Narooma Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
4. Mummuga Lake, Dalmeny
- Type
- Lake · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based and kayak. Dalmeny foreshore reserves; the Creswick Cove ramp nearby is for the ocean.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: dusky flathead and sand whiting. Also in season: yellowfin bream and luderick.
- Best tide
- Intermittently open; fish the run-in when the entrance is open.
- Best wind
- Sheltered.
- Note
- Recreational fishing haven: flathead and bream on light plastics around weed edges, whiting on worms over the sand flats.
- Safety
- Shallow; the entrance closes at times.
- Zone
- Recreational fishing haven (habitat protection zone); the Kianga Lake sanctuary zone is about 2.5 km south. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -36.16510, 150.11790 · Open in Google Maps (position: Lake Mummuga, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
5. Montague Island (Barunguba)
- Type
- Island · offshore (boat)
- Access
- Boat. Boat from the Narooma ramps across the Narooma bar; landing on the island only with authorised tours.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: snapper and sand and tiger flathead. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish, Australian bonito and yellowfin tuna. Out of season now: marlin.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Light winds only; about 9 km offshore and open to all swell.
- Note
- Coordinate is the island. Jig or live-bait the reefs for kingfish, fish the bottom for snapper and flathead, and troll wider for bonito and tuna; marlin in summer.
- Safety
- Crossing the Narooma bar is the main hazard. Grey nurse shark critical habitat: seasonal gear limits at the north end.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Fish the habitat protection waters. In the inner (north) zone from 1 Nov to 30 Apr: no fishing with bait, at anchor or with a wire trace, and no nets except landing nets. DPIRD has allowed fishing in the South and East sanctuary zones since 2019 until further notice: check first. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -36.25180, 150.22650 · Open in Google Maps (position: Montague Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
6. Mystery Bay
- Type
- Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based and boat. Mystery Bay Road: camping area and car parks right by the rocks; small sand ramp.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Australian salmon. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor and southern calamari.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Westerlies. Faces E.
- Note
- Rocky bay and reef south of Narooma: berley for drummer, luderick and bream, squid jigs over the weed, and salmon and tailor off the outer rocks.
- Safety
- The outer rocks catch south-east swell: lifejacket advised.
- Zone
- Habitat protection zone; the Bogola sanctuary zone is about 1.8 km north. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -36.30290, 150.13650 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mystery Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
Boat ramps
6 public boat ramps are listed for Narooma and Wagonga Inlet, with positions from Maritime NSW Boat Ramps. Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.
| Ramp | Notes | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Apex Park Boat Ramp, Narooma | 2 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Main Narooma launch; ocean access is across the Narooma bar. | -36.20914, 150.12925 Google Maps |
| Mill Bay, Narooma | 1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon or jetty nearby, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Lower Wagonga Inlet by the bridge. | -36.20798, 150.12486 Google Maps |
| Taylors, Narooma | 1 lane, 11-20 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon or jetty nearby, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Wagonga Inlet, Riverside Drive. | -36.21922, 150.12149 Google Maps |
| The Loop Boat Ramp | 1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Wagonga Inlet, Lake View Drive. | -36.22402, 150.12250 Google Maps |
| Creswick Cove Boat Ramp | 1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Small ocean ramp at Dalmeny; swell dependent. | -36.16622, 150.13071 Google Maps |
| Mystery Bay Boat Ramp | 1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, sand surface (TfNSW record). Small-craft ocean launch. | -36.30371, 150.13578 Google Maps |
What's biting here in October?
In peak season at Narooma and Wagonga Inlet in October: sand whiting, mulloway, Australian salmon, dusky flathead and 4 more. Of the 29 species our NSW South Coast list has for this part of the coast, 8 peak in October 2026 and 14 more are in season.
Peak in October: sand whiting, mulloway, Australian salmon, dusky flathead, sand and tiger flathead, snapper, Australian bass and estuary perch.
Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick, yellowtail kingfish, silver trevally, rock blackfish, southern calamari, Australian bonito, yellowfin tuna, tarwhine, leatherjacket, eastern sea garfish, blue swimmer crab and school and eastern king prawns.
Out of season in October: marlin (best Jan–Apr); mahi mahi (best Dec–Apr).
Seen now and then, so not rated: mud crab, mangrove jack, mackerel tuna, Spanish mackerel and cobia.
Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: New South Wales' own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.
Can you fish here? Rules and safety
NSW Recreational Fishing Fee needed to fish NSW saltwater (incl. spearfishing, hand gathering, bait collecting, prawning): $7 3 days, $14 1 month, $35 1 year, $85 3 years (Oct 2026). Exempt: under 18, Aboriginal people, Pensioner Concession Card and DVA TPI/EDA Gold Card holders (other cases, e.g. some DVA payments or a charter or guide with an exemption certificate, are on the exemptions page). Interstate licences are not an exemption. Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: New South Wales' limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Rules at Narooma and Wagonga Inlet
- Batemans Marine Park: no fishing in sanctuary zones; restricted zones at Wagonga Head, Montague Island (inner) and Bullengella-Loader Beach.
- Wagonga Inlet: no hoop or lift nets, hand-hauled or push prawn nets, crab or lobster traps; no spearfishing east of the highway bridge.
- Forsters Bay, Clarks Bay-Freshwater Bay, Nangudga Lake and Montague South and East sanctuary zones: DPIRD has allowed some recreational fishing since December 2019 until further notice. No spot in this guide is inside them.
Marine parks and no-take zones
The zone notes here name Batemans Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Narooma breakwall (Wagonga Head), Wagonga Inlet, Narooma Beach and Montague Island (Barunguba): each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.
Safety at Narooma and Wagonga Inlet
- The Narooma bar is one of the most dangerous on the coast: lifejackets on, check the TfNSW webcam and cross only in suitable conditions.
- Eurobodalla is not a declared rock-fishing area, but lifejackets are strongly advised on rock platforms.
- Montague Island is about 9 km out: carry an EPIRB (required more than 2 nautical miles offshore in NSW).
New South Wales: official links
Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: NSW coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.
Boating: New South Wales boating safety, crossing coastal bars and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Boats <=4.8m: always on open waters and bars (L100+); enclosed waters when alone or at night. >4.8m: all wear L100+ crossing bars. Under-12s: always on <=4.8m; open areas <=8m underway.
Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Marine Rescue NSW. Log On when you head out and Log Off when you return. Call your Marine Rescue NSW base on VHF Channel 16 or use the free Marine Rescue NSW app. If you don't Log Off, volunteers start searching.
Marine parks and closed areas: NSW marine parks (Cape Byron, Solitary Islands, Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay, Batemans, Lord Howe Island), NSW aquatic reserves, Intertidal protected areas (Sydney) and Australian Marine Parks (Temperate East network, Lord Howe).
- Rock fishing lifejacket law: Lifejacket required by law when rock fishing in declared areas (Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016): Ballina, Central Coast, Kiama, Lake Macquarie, Northern Beaches, Port Stephens, Randwick, Richmond Valley, Sutherland, Wollongong. $100 fine. More.
New South Wales' official rules: size and bag limits and closed seasons and areas (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.
Nearby fishing areas
- Bermagui and Wallaga Lake (about 23 km south)
- Moruya and Tuross Head (about 26 km north)
- Batemans Bay and the Clyde (about 54 km north)
- Merimbula, Pambula and Tathra (about 71 km south)
Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in New South Wales · all fishing spot guides.
Sources and checked dates
- Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0, ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0 and Maritime NSW Boat Ramps (Transport for NSW), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
- Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
- Research sources: dpird.nsw.gov.au (Wagonga Inlet gear closures, spearfishing east of the bridge, Montague grey nurse restrictions); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Wagonga Inlet net and trap closure); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Sanctuary zones where DPIRD allows recreational fishing until further notice (Forsters Bay, Clarks Bay-Freshwater Bay, Nangudga Lake, Montague South and East, Brou Lake South)); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Montague Island species and estuary/beach species in the park); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Official zoning map, special purpose zones at Narooma); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Montague Island kingfish hotspot; Narooma bar warning); batemansbaypost.com.au (Wagonga Inlet bream, flathead, mulloway and Montague catches (local report)); nsw.gov.au (Narooma coastal bar webcam and lifejacket rule); spatial.industry.nsw.gov.au (Zone polygons used to check every spot); opendata.transport.nsw.gov.au (Boat ramp locations and facilities).
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.